Shallenburger, Albert Leroy

Picher Oklahoma, Jan 27--A 29 years old Galena Kansas miner, Albert Leroy Shallenburger, was killed this afternoon in an underground explosion at the C K & M Mine, about five miles northwest of Picher. Two other members of a 15-man crew were momentarily overcome by gas fumes following the blast. The explosion, in an obscure subterranean cave, apparently was touched off by an open carbide lamp Shallenburger carried on his helmet.

Harry Walton, also of Galena, and William Thurman, 27 year old Joplin Missouri resident, recovered from effects of the fumes after being lifted 400 feet to the surface. Ray Ballinger of near Picher suffered flash burns about the hands and face and was taken to the office of a Baxter Springs Kansas physician for treatment. He was not seriously hurt. The explosion occurred about 2:30 o'clock as Shallenburger--apart from his fellow workers--entered the cave not knowing it held a deadly gas pocket. The gas, crewmen said later, apparently had accumulated in the cavern only shortly before. The air in that part of the mine was found to be safe in an earlier check they explained.

The cave in which the explosion occurred is an estimated half-mile from the entrance to the mine, and not until almost two hours later did workmen find the mangled body in a water hole on the mine floor. The discovery was made by Harry Leverich of Baxter Springs Kansas, Paul Pollock, ground boss, and Harry Skyes, both of Galena Kansas. The remains were removed from the shaft at 5:30 o'clock by a group of men which included Chief Jim Luckey and Capt. Eurban Cantrell of the Miami fire department and Leon Childers of Baxter Springs, one of the mine operators. The body was taken to Baxter Springs in a Lance-Wene funeral home ambulance.

Shallenburger is survived by his wife and several brothers and sisters. One brother, 22 year old Lloyd Shallenburger of Baxter Springs, was at the scene for almost three hours before the body was surfaced. The Miami firemen sped a number of portable oxygen-mask outfits to the mine after it was at first feared the gas might have spread throughout the zinc-bearing tunnels. Compressed air pumped into the shaft by company equipment proved adequate in making rescue operations safe, however. Assistance also was given by Baxter Springs police and the Galena fire department.